Join the King County Board of Health

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The King County Board of Health is recruiting for a public health provider alternate.

Applications to join the Board are welcome from King County residents who share a commitment to public health principles and addressing racism as a public health crisis. The Board is currently considering applications for one vacant position to join in 2027. This vacancy is for the public health, facilities and providers alternate seat.

The person selected for this role will serve as the alternate for the three public health, facilities and providers Board members. The alternate is invited to attend all Board meetings and may vote when any of the public health, facilities and providers Board members are absent.

This alternate position represents people practicing or employed in the county who are:

  • Medical ethicists,
  • Epidemiologists,
  • Experienced in environmental health,
  • Community health workers,
  • Individuals with master’s degrees or higher in public health or the equivalent,
  • Employees of a hospital located in the county,
  • Any of the following providers holding an active or retired license in good standing:
    • Physicians or osteopathic physicians, advanced registered nurse, registered nurses,
    • Physician assistants or osteopathic physician assistants,
  • Dentists,
  • Naturopaths, or
  • Pharmacists.

Applications must be received by July 22nd, 2026, 11:59 pm PST. This fall the Board will send their recommendation to fill this vacancy to the King County Council, who will appoint the member before the end of the year. The new member will begin their term January 1, 2027.

About the board

Currently the Board includes 10 elected officials and 10 non-elected people who represent the public, healthcare, and other community stakeholders, as well as 11 non-voting alternates.  

The Board of Health has several responsibilities. Its mission is to advocate for the preservation, promotion, and protection of public health. It works to prevent the spread of disease, set local public health regulations and some fees and licenses, and enforce state and local public health laws. The Board does not have budget authority. 

Past Board activities have included passing a regulation banning trans fats in restaurants, regulating e-cigarettes, and establishing a medicine take-back program.  

The Board issues guidelines and recommendations. For example, the Board issued guidelines for a model tobacco-free parks policy to promote a tobacco-free experience for visitors to all King County parks.  

The Board also creates resolutions to express support for policies or strategies. For example, the Board passed a resolution encouraging the Washington State Legislature to address climate change and its health impacts, with a focus on communities disproportionately impacted by health inequities. 

The Board takes a racial equity approach to its work and expects its members to be committed to racial equity and ending the impacts of racism on health. 

Board member expectations

  • Attending and participating in monthly meetings held on the third Thursday of each month at 1pm
  • Nonelected members shall have the ability to vote except on legislation pertaining to fees
  • Participation in subcommittees as needed

Compensation

Board members who are not being compensated for their participation through their employer will be paid $225 for each full board meeting they attend, not to exceed $225 per month.  

Visit the website to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of the Board of Health and the application process. 

For more information:

Originally posted 6/22/26

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